I really got into black metal, and I'm always trying to discover and detect some atmospheric quality black metal. Now, I need recommendations for worthwile black metal besides the mainstream. I'm familiar with the pioneers of the genre. Bands such as Mayhem, Burzum, Gorgoroth, Darkthrone, Satyricon, Dark Funeral, and all that. Now, I'd like to get to know the more underground kind of the scene. For example, I got my hands on Isengard, Nargaroth, Beherit, Behexen, Satanic Warmaster, Horna, and some material in the vein of Xasthur, Watain, or Wolves In The Throne Room. I'm pretty much looking for that kind of stuff. I have no certain expectations, and there's no certain criteria, but I'd be happy if you'd just post some of you favorite black metal bands for me to check them out. So, I'm actually looking for insider tips and bands that are actually pure gold, though they don't really appear in the more mainstream black metal scene. So, I think you got the idea. Thanks in advance, everybody.

Joined: Sat May 20, 2006 2:07 amPosts: 394Location: United States of America

Posted: Fri Jun 10, 2011 5:12 pm

Kvist - For Kunsten Maa Vi Evig VikeWhen it comes to raw, atmospheric, melodic black metal, this is one of my favorites. Kvist's only release to date is a classic of Norwegian black metal that's as good as any of the more well-known releases from the early-mid 90's. The riffs are very well composed; like the classical/melancholic sound of early Gorgoroth with the majestic, nocturnal essence of early Emperor and Satyricon.

Nehëmah - Light of a Dead Star / Requiem TenebraeThis excellent French band plays a very tasteful second-wave Norwegian style that's dark, grim and straightforward. This may not be very original, but this is the kind of band that once you get into, it just doesn't matter because of how highly competent and well-executed their music is.

Frozen Shadows - Dans les Bras des ImmortelsThere's a lot of bands that closely emulate that early-mid 90's Norwegian style, but this is one of the best I've heard and a huge personal favorite. This album is 100% perfect from beginning to end. The atmosphere, songwriting, riffs, melodies, vocals, speed, every aspect of this band is absolutely top-notch and cannot be missed.

I really love Necromantia and Thou Art Lord, especially Necromantia. They've always been different and their songs seem to reflect a more mature black metal sound. Thou Art Lord is more like early Rotting Christ.

Deathspell Omega and Nehemah sound great, going to be listening to both bands for a while.

You need some Blackhorned. Danish black metal that I haven't seen mentioned on here, but they have a few albums out. They are quite dark sounding but not overly raw and the melodies are quite eerie, almost melodic. I also love their cover art.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MckhZRJt ... re=related

Absu- Thrashy as hell black metal. Seriously, it's probably the best black metal United States has ever produced. I would start with their first album because it's honestly the most accessible and sounds the most basic, but if you want something that has more of a individual sound to itself check out Tara. This is from Tara

Animus- This is somewhere between being a basement black metal project and a straight cut Burzum-esque black metal project, meaning that while it has that basement-like quality to it there's still plenty quality to be found. Poems for the Aching and Souls For The Infuriated is by far one of the saddest most depressing albums I've heard in a really long time, so I'd definitely check it out. This is from Poems for the Aching Souls For The Infuriated.

Basilisk- This is from the United Kingdom. It has a really unique tone to the guitars and unique sound tot he vocals. Honestly, it's hard to explain without using the words "raw and grim", which is pretty fucking nebulous when discussing black metal hahaha. This is from A Joyless March Through the Cold-Lands

Cobalt- Black metal from my hometown of Colorado! Seriously great shit, sort of along the lines of Marduk or norsecore, but it's hard to pigeonhole it into a certain style because these guys really do have their own sound going for themselves. This is from Eater of Birds

Deathspell Omega- They've already been recommended, but I'm stating them again just to emphasize how amazing they are. Honestly, I've had a bit of an off period from "metal", but I'll still listen to this band quite a bit. It's the darkest music I've ever heard produced, and that's true even in the realm of black metal. I'd first get "Si Monumentum Requires, Circumspice". This songs from Si Monumentum Requires.

Drudkh- Although I'm not a fan at all of their newest release, all their stuff before was absolutely fantastic. All their music is based on eastern Europe, and they do a fantastic job bringing out the atmosphere of such a place. I would start with Blood in our Wells or Autumn Aurora as a first album. Song from Blood in Our Wells.

Limbonic Art- Simply put, Limbonic Art is Dimmu Borgir if they were an actual black metal band. It's highly symphonic based music with standard black metal backing it. I'd start with the album In Abhorrence Dementia as it's the most accessible, but then I'd get Moon In The Scorpio. This is from In Abhorrence Dementia

The One- A raw black metal band from Greece. Definitely follows the sound of bands like Darkthrone or even Dark Funeral. Check out their album I, Master. This is from the album I, Master.

Samayoi- Samayoi has gone completely unrecognized from the black metal scene, and it's a shame. This was music that made the whole depressive black metal scene in the United State look like absolute shit. Seriously- check out the album Kanashimi. It's great music. This is from the album Kanashimi

Taake- This band is the perfect blend of the norsecore sound that bands like Marduk have developed and the more romantic side of black metal such as Burzum or Drudkh. It's really pretty music that it's surprisingly aggressive a lot of the time. Check out Nattestid Ser Porten Vid first, as it's probably the best album they did. This songs from Nattestid Ser Porten Vid.

Ulver- Although I would regard them as far more mainstream then not, the fact you didn't mention them means I have to recommend them. They're FAR from their black metal sound anymore, but what they did with the album "Bergtatt - et Eeventyr I 5 Capitler" is fucking amazing. It's one of my favorite black metal albums ever and nothing else has ever been created like it. This is from "Bergtatt- et Eeventyr I 5 Capitler".

Nokturnal Mortum is unbelievably great. Was already recommended but check out especially Lunar Poetry and Goat Horns. Weltanschauung and Voice of Steel are incredible too but not as black metal as their first stuff.

I doubt Septic Flesh and Children of Bodom attract the same group, SF is very popular with true metalheads whereas CoB is popular with teens and "metal"heads who think they're extreme for listening to them (imo)

If you like Isengard Sorgsvart is a good bet, imagine Isengard with a little more folk and more strangeness; though on some tracks they stay pretty close to orthodox black metal:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sBlUyA7vq0

It was released, just hyper limited. The band is working on trying to get a wider re-release. I tried to think of the most obscure (and good) but still attainable thing out there since he specifically asked for something outside the mainstream realm of BM.

_________________"I believe ghosts are like dogs and they just sort of do things arbitrarily."

Though I guess it is fairly mainstream and you don't want them to be, you haven't mentioned it yet.Alcest's Souvenir etcetc. is a rather... bleh. I won't even finish that sentence, it's way overrated.However, the 2010 album Écailles de Lune is worth checking out.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TlajUeu ... re=related

Also I don't think they're that mainstream, so I'd have to mention the pagan black metal Wyrd, especially the album of Heathen.The song is quite long so I can't post a link to that. Teehee. You would just have to believe the reviews.http://www.metal-archives.com/reviews/W ... then/8780/

Once you've had enough of the darkness, there's always the somewhat uplight and synthy-folky Vordven(note: don't think of it any less, it's an amazing band. one of a kind. The 1999 album is the best.)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkAPb_XlYOE

And the moment I've been waiting for:Potentiam, Years in the Shadows album. This is one of the most unknown yet one of the greatest albums of Black Metal I have ever found.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIE56IaSlWo

Looking for some instrumentals?Forest of Fog's Rabenflug album is then indeed in your alley! So is Vorgrow's "Black Metal is Elitism".And Bardo's album I, and Blutklinge - Reflection of a Bleak Mind.

Well if you want something else, there's always Ambient Black Metal. Space, winter, or just cold? Sure!Paysage d'Hiver (especially Schnee from the Split, and Winterkälte album), Darkspace, Sun of the Blind, and also Ethere.I also shouldn't forget to add Coldworld though that's not as noisy as the ones just above.